The announcement of the Perold Absa Cape Blend winners is always a highly anticipated event, earmarked in the diaries of wine enthusiasts and producers alike. Unsurprising, as this uniquely South African Pinotage red blend has become a wine category that has demonstrated its worth internationally, solidifying its place as a key offering for South African wine producers. Since its 2011 debut, the Perold Absa Cape Blend competition is an opportunity for winemakers to showcase the great depth, complexity and nuance that the Pinotage grape is capable of.   The exceptional quality of this year’s winning wines is a testament to the fact that South African winemakers are deepening their understanding of their terroir, enabling them to create blends of extraordinary quality and uniqueness that can stand out on the world stage.   The wines were judged at Nederburg and the judging panel included Wilhelm Pienaar, Danie Steytler, Rüdger van Wyk, Corlea Fourie and Charles Hopkins.  The panel convener, Wilhelm Pienaar says that this remains a very exciting wine category and producers are growing in confidence evidently using their top Pinotage from the cellar. According to the Vice Chairman of the Pinotage Association, De Wet Viljoen, “South African’s these days have more knowledge and appreciation for really good wines, with competitions like the Cape Blend we guide the consumers exposure to greater quality wines and that they may enjoy every experience from a bottle of wine”. “On behalf of Absa, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to this year’s winners. The Covid-19 pandemic and its restrictions have made this a challenging year for all South Africans, especially the wine industry which is a significant contributor to the South African job market. As a proud partner to The Pinotage Association we are encouraged with the resilience shown by the winemakers during these difficult times. Absa reaffirms our commitment and support to the industry and wish it continued success for the future,” says John Tshabalala, Managing Executive for Absa Retail and Business Banking, Cape Region. The entries are always from a wide array of South African wine regions in numerous styles and blend combinations and this year was no different. Two of this year’s winning wines are from the Stellenbosch region and the list are completed by wines from the Tulbagh, Wellington, and coastal regions.   WINNERS - 2020 PEROLD ABSA CAPE BLEND COMPETITION   KWV The Mentors Perold Cape Blend 2017 WO Coastal Region:    Pinotage/Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Malbec/Petit Sirah Winemaker Izele van Blerk   Rijk's Pinotage/Syrah 2015 WO Tulbagh : Pinotage/Syrah Winemaker Pierre Wahl   Stellenbosch Hills Suikerboschrand Cape Blend 2015 WO Stellenbosch : Pinotage/Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot            Winemaker James Ochse   Warwick Three Cape Ladies 2017 WO Stellenbosch : Cabernet Sauvignon/Pinotage/Cabernet Franc Winemaker JD Pretorius   La Cave Cape Blend 2018 WO Wellington : Pinotage/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Winemaker Francois van Niekerk View photos of the event on our Facebook Page -  Two of this year’s winning wines are from the Stellenbosch region and the list are completed by wines from the Tulbagh, Wellington, and coastal regions.